'It was just gang fights' -- Rockford school downplays incident

Five students were arrested Wednesday after a “gang-related” cafeteria fight at Jefferson High School involving dozens of students.

Jeff Kolkey and Mike Wiser

Five students were arrested Wednesday after a “gang-related” cafeteria fight at Jefferson High School involving dozens of students.

Reaction from students and administrators? No big deal.

“It was just gang fights,” said Bethsaida Lopez, a 16-year-old junior at the school. “It doesn’t bother me.”

Principal Kenneth Jackson said the incidents, which pitted rival gangs against one another, were not a big deal.

“It wasn’t anything major,” Jackson said. “There was a lot of disrespect, a lot of talking back and a lot of not following instruction. There were no weapons or medical attention needed. To me, it really wasn’t major.”

Charges against the five students included disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstructing a police officer and aggravated battery of a probation officer.

Lopez said she didn’t know any of the students involved and didn’t see the fights because she didn’t go to lunch Wednesday. Still, news of the melee and arrests traveled fairly fast.

“I think (school administrators and police) have a good handle on it,” Lopez said. “I’m not worried about it spilling over or anything.”

Javan Chandler, a 15-year-old freshman at the school, had a similar attitude about the fights. He said he saw a couple of tussles during the school day but not the one that ended in the arrest of the students.

“The things I saw was just one-on-one,” Chandler said. “I think the school is safe. I’m not worried about going to school or anything.”

Both Lopez and Chandler said the fights were nothing compared to the September near-riots that shut down the school and resulted in extra police at the school in the immediate aftermath.

There is little school personnel can do about gangs at Jefferson, said Jim Scheidt, parent of a Jefferson freshman. It’s an issue that must be dealt with as a community, he said.

But he said he would like to see more hall monitors, police or other staff at Jefferson to better keep a lid on potential violence.

“Any time there is violence, you worry about it,” Scheidt said. “I don’t think it’s the administration’s fault there are gangs up there. That is the result of the group of kids we have. There is nothing administration can do about it, and there is nothing downtown can do about it.”

Staff writer Jeff Kolkey can be reached at 815-987-1374 or at jkoley@rrstar.com. Staff writer Mike Wiser can be reached at 815-987-1377 or at mwiser@rrstar.com.